Cider-press



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-#Sheet 1.

E. M. LANTZ. GIDBR PRESS.

5 N0'.;514,831.A I Patented Peb. 13,1894;

(No Modal.) z sheets-sheet 2.

' E. M LANTZ.

GIDER PRESS.

' 110.514,831.v z =Paten1ed11eb.13,1894.

NrTnD STATES ATENT einen.

EMANUEL M. LANTZ, OF HELENA, OHIO.

CIDER-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,831, dated February13, 1894.

Applicationfiled October 2,1893.

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, EMANUEL M. LANTz, a citizen of the United States,residing at Helena, in the county of Sandusky and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Cider- Fress, of which the following is aspecificalon.

This invention relates to cider mills; and it has for its object toprovide` certain improvements in cider mills which include therewithpressing devices for squeezing out the juice from the pomace.

To this end the main and primary object of the present invention istoeffect certain novel improvements in machines of this character wherebythe same will be rendered much more practicable and efcient. y

With these and other objects in View, which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arl rangement of parts, hereinaftermore fully described, illustrated and claimed.

.ln the drawings: Figure l is a perspective vlew of a cider mill andpress constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation from the side opposite to that shown in the perspective. Fig.3 is acentral vertical longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional view on the line of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail planview of the connection at one end of the pressure frame.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A represents the main fra-me ofthe machine, constructed in any suitable length or width, according tothe size of the machine being built, and said frame is provided at eachend with the depending supporting legs a adapted to rest on a floor orin other convenient location, and at the upper opposite end of saidframe are arranged the opposite pairs of bearing-boxes a in which arejournaled the endapron rollers B. One of the end-apron rollers B servesin the capacity of a lower pressure roller, and both of the rollers areprovided at their opposite ends, inside of the bearings a with thesprocket-portions b, which are adapted to receive the endlessapron-chains h. The

o osite a ron chains b are arran oedto travel Serial No. 487,018. (Nomodel.)

parallel with each other and have attached thereto the opposite edges ofthe lower permeablecider-apron O. The lower permeable cider-apron C isdesigned to allow the cider, pressed from the milled fruit, to passtherethrough during the operation of the machine,

and the upper portion of the cider-apron is supported to travel in ahorizontal plane 'by means of the intermediate lower pressure rollers c.The lower pressure rollers c have their opposite ends journaled in thesides of the frame A, intermediate of the ends of the frame and atregularly spaced distances from one of -the end apron-rollers B, and thesaid intermediate lower pressure rollers c are provided near theiropposite ends with the sprockets c', which are engaged by the oppositeAchains b', which serve to communicate motion to the lower pressurerollers when the cider-apron is in operation.

The lower portion ot' the cider-apron O is guided to travel under thecentrally-arranged combined guide and tightener roller` D, which rolleris provided with the opposite reduced chain portions d, over which passthe opposite apron-chains b', and such roller has the oppositespindle-ends thereof journaled in the bearing-boxes d', secured to thelower vends of the intermediate bearing legs d2.

Both of the bearing-legs d2 depend from the opposite sides of the frameA at an intermediate point, and one of said legs is hinged, as at d3, tothe frame A, whereby such leg can be readily swung out from engagementwith one end of the roller D and swung up out of the way, in ordertoprovide ready access to the cider tank or pan E, which is removablysupported in position directly under the upper horizontal portion of thecider apron. depressing the lower portion of the cider apron with theroller D, such cider apron is not only always kept stretched, but alsoprovides means for conveniently arranging the cider tank or pan insideof the frame between the upper and lower portions of the cider apron,and said cider tank or pan E is provided with inclined ends e which`accommodate it to the space inclosedby the cider apron, and is alsoprovided with a plugged drainopening e', from which the cider may bedrained from the tank or pan after removal. The open top portion ofthecider tankvor pan E is covered by a cloth, or other suitablestrainer, F, which extends from end to end of the tank or pan andprovides means for completely straining the cider before it is admittedinto the tank or pan, and the latter is removably supported in positionout of contact with the lower portion of the cider apron by means of thesupporting pinsf, secured to and projecting from the oppositebearinglegs d2, so as to engage beneath the bottom of the cider tank orpan. 'Vhen the hinged bearing-leg is swung out, the supporting piucarried thereby is disengaged from the bottom of the tank or pan so thatit may be readily removed.

The requisite pressure is maintained on top of the lower cider apron,and the lower pressure rollers under the upper portion thereof, by meansof the upper endless pressure apron G. The upper endless pressure apronG is made of'any suitable material and is tightly stretched over aseries of upper pressure rollers g, the ends of which are journaled inthe opposite adjustable frame-bars g', which, together with the rollersand apron carried thereby, forms an adjustable pressure frame, which.may be adjusted to any desired pressure on top of thelower cider apronand lower pressure rollers. As clearly shown in the drawings, the upperpressure rollers g are arranged above and slightlyin rear of each one ofthe lower pressure rollers, to facilitate the free ruiming of the juicethrough the cider apron at one side of the lower pressure rollers. 'lheOpposite frame-bars g are provided at one end with the slotted tongues1I, which are fitted inthe retaining sockets 7L and are adapted toreceive the retaining pins 7L', passing through the sides oit' saidsockets and the slots in said tongues, whereby the said frame-bars arefree to move when adjusted by means of the intermediate adjusting-boltsI. The adjustingbolts I are connected at one end to the opposite sidesof the frame A, and have their threaded portions project throughperforations or openings fi', so as to be engaged at their upper ends bythe adjustingnuts t', which, when manipulated, tighten or loosen thepressure of the upper pressure-apron on the lower cider-apron, but itwill of course be understood that other suitable means for regulatingthis pressure may be employed. The upper pressure frame is of a shorterlength than the lower apron, and the inner ends ofthe frame-bars g' haveattached thereto the opposite straps J, provided with lower slotted endsj, engaged by the screws or pins j', which are secured in the oppositebearinglegs, and these straps also provide means for allowing the innerend of the upper pressure frame to move according to the adjustment ofthe adjusting-bolts I.

It is of course understood that, when the machine is in operation, thecontact of the lower cider apron with the upper pressure apron willimpart motion to the latter and in a reverse direction, and by reason ofthe relative arrangement of these two aprons the juice will becompletely extracted from the pomace before it reaches the dischargingends of both aprons, at which point is arranged a rapidly-revolvingcleaning-brush K. The cleaning-brush K is constructed of any suitablesize so as to fit the space or mouth formed between the upper and lowerpressure rollers located at one end of the frame, and thereby providingmeans for cleaning both aprons of the dried pomace as it issues frombetween themi The cleaning-brush K is mounted on a brush-shaft 7c, theopposite ends of which are journaled in suitable bearings at oppositesides of the frame, and said shaft carries at one end a pulley k', overwhich passes the belt 7a2, for imparting motion to the brush.

The revolving cleaning-brush K serves to throw the pomace onto thecarrier-frame L, removably arranged at an inclination at one end ofthemachine frame. The carrier-frame L is provided with an imperforateplatform Z, and carries at both ends the belt-rollers M, the lower oneof which projects beyond both sides of the carrier-frame and removably[its in the open bearing-notches N, formed in one end of the frame A,below the pressure apronroller B,and said carrier-frame is removablyheld in position by means of a suitable hook it, attached to the frameand engaging an eye a', on the machine frame. A slatted pomace carrieror belt O is mounted within the i'rame L and passes over both rollerstherein, and the lower one of the rollers N carries at one end a pulleym, over which passes a short belt m', which also passes over an adjacentpulley i112, arranged on one end of the pressure-apron roller 13, to theother end of which apron roller is secured the belt-wheel l, whichserves to communicate motion to the several endless aprons, as will bepresently described.

As already described,the cider apron is longer than the upper pressureapron G, and removably supported in position above the exposed end ofthe cider apron adjacent to the inner end of the pressure apron, is thehopper Q. The hopperQ is suitably secured between the oppositeframe-uprights q,which are secured to and arise from one end of theframe A, and said hopper is provided with a lower open end through whichthe milled apples pass to the cider apron before passing under the upperpressure apron, and arranged to move within the lower open end of thehopper box Q is a feed-roller q', provided with a tangential series offeed-blades q2, working within the hopper and forcing the material ontothe cider apron at one end, and said feedroller q is suitably journaledon the opposite fraine-uprights q and carries at opposite ends thesprocket-wheels (13, which are arranged above and engage the oppositeapron-chains b', which serve to communicate motion to the feed-rollerina direction opposite to the Inovemeut of the cider apron.

The quantity of material fed onto the cider IIO apron by the feedingdevice isregulated by an adjustable feed-board R, suitably mountedwithin the lower portion of the hopper, and said feed-board may beadjusted so as to close 1n the bottom of the hopper and allow 1t to befilled with ground apples before the pressing devices are set in motion,asv will be presently described, and the top of the hopper Q is inclosedby the hinged top o", through which the material is fed into the hopper,and the material fed from the hopper onto the cider apron is guideddirectly under the upper pressure apron and prevented from moving offsidewise by the combined guard and guide frame S. The guardframe Scomprlses the opposite converging side-bars s, secured at their outerends to opposite sides of ythe frame and having their inner endsconnected by the top cross-piece s', which permits of the free rotationof the feeding device, while at the same time serving to guide the fruitto a contracted feed-opening lying directly in front of one end of theupper pressure apron. v

A toothed grinding-roller T is mounted wlthln the top of the hopper Qand serves to grind the apples as they are fed into the hopper `top o",and said grinding roller T is mounted on the shaft t, journaled in theupper ends of the frame-uprights q, and carrying at one end acrank-wheel t', from which motion may be communicated to the machine ifdesired, and at one side of the crank-wheel t 1s arranged a pulley t2,which receives one end of the belt k2, and serves to communicate motionto the revolving cleaning-brush K. The other end of the shaft t carriesa sprocket-Wheel U, and an adjacent pulley u, over which latter may passa crossed drive-belt u', one end of which belt may be arranged to passover a crank belt wheel u2, loosely mounted at one side of thebelt-wheel P, and which may be employed, if desired, for communicatingmotion to the machine instead of from the wheel t', but the shaft t maybe driven by suitable belting from an engine, or in any other desiredmanner.

The sprocket-wheel U on one end of the shaft t imparts motion to thesprocket-chain V, which is arranged to pass over a larger sprocket-Wheelfu, journaled in the swinging gear-yoke W,and carrying atl one sideA abeltpulley w, overl which belt-pulley is adapted to pass one end of acrossed belt X, the other end of which passes over the belt-wheel P, andcommunicates motion thereto. The gearyoke W is hinged or pivoted at itsupper t end, as at w', to a suitable point of attachment near the upperend of one of the frameuprights q; and the lower end of said yoke ispivoted to one end of the horizontally-movableadjusting-bar-Y.Thehorizontally-movvable. adjusting-bar Y has loosely connectedtheretothe lower end of the gear, or tightening lever y, pivoted to one side ofthe frame A and carrying near the upper end thereof the pivoted dog Z,`which is adapted to engage any one of the locking-notches z, formed atone side of one of the, frame-uprights q.

When the machine is in operation, itwill be obvious that the pressingdevices necessarily move somewhat slower than the grinding anddischarging devices, and when so desired, the feed-board R may be shovedacross the lower portion of the hopper and, by means of the gear-levery, the gear-yoke W may be adjusted so as to loosen the belt X and throwthe pressing devices out of gear, while the grinder continues to revolveand fills up the hopper full of ground fruit. When the hopper is fullthe gear-lever y is moved in one direction so as to tighten up the beltX, and thereby throw the pressing devices into gear, so that theoperation of squeezing out the juice from the apples may commence.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a cider mill, the combination of the frame, an endless permeablecider apron having an upper horizontal portion, a series of lowerpressure rollers mounted within the frame under the upper portion of thecider apron, an upper adjustable frame carrying a series of upperpressure rollers disposed above and slightly in rear of each lowerpressure roller, an inclined pomace carrier located at one end of theframe, fastening devices detachably connecting the pomace carrier withthe frame, and a cleaning brushdisposed over the pomace carrier at oneend of the. main frame, substantially as set forth.

2. In a cider mill, the frame, apron rollers journaled at each end ofsaid frame and having sprockets at their ends, opposite endless apronchains passing over the sprockets of said apron rollers, an endlesscider apron attached to said apron chains, a series of lowerV pressurerollers mounted in the frame under the upper portion of the cider aproninterme- IOO diately of the end apron rollers and each of which isprovided with end sprockets engaged by said apron chains, a combinedguide vand tightener roller suitably journaled below the center of saidframe and receiving the lower portion of the cider apron which passesthereunder, a cider tank arranged inside of the space between bothportions of the cider apron, and the revolving feeder having endsprocket wheels engaging the opposite apron chains substantially as setforth.

3. In a cider mill, the main frame, an endless cider apron mounted insaid frame, opposite depending bearing-legs having bearing-boxes attheir lower ends and one of which is hinged at its upper end to the mainframe and capable of being swung outward, a roller journaled at its endsin the bearing-boxes on said legs and receiving the lower portion of thecider apron which is depressed thereby, a removable cider tank or panarranged within the frame under the upper portion of the cider apron,supporting pins secured to each of the bearing-legs and adapted toengage beneath the cider tank or pan, and the feeding and pressingdevices, substantially as set forth.

4. In a cider mill,the combination with the main frame, the cider apronhaving a lower centrally depressed portion, and the feeding and pressingdevices; of opposite intermediate frame legs one of which is hinged atits upper end to the main frame, a removable cider tank arranged inthespace between the upper and lower portions of the cider apron and havinginclined ends and a strainer in the open top portion thereof, andsupporting pins secured to the inside of said frame legs and adapted toengage beneath the cider tank to removably hold the same in position,substantially as set forth.

5. In acider mill, the main frame, the lower cider apron mounted in saidframe, a verticallyadjustable pressure frame arranged above the top ofthe cider apron and having opposite frame-bars provided with slottedtongues at one end,a series of upper pressure rollers, and a pressureapron supported by said frame-bars, suitably-supported retaining pinsarranged on the frame and engaging the slotted tongues of theframe-bars, opposite supporting-straps connected to the inner ends ofsaid frame-bars, feeding devices arranged over the cider apron near oneend of the pressure frame, and a pomace carrier removably attached toone end of the main frame geyflnd both aprons, substantially as set ort6. In a cider mill, the combination with the main frame having openbearing notches at one end, and the feeding and pressing devices; of aninclined pomace carrier having the extremities of the inner one of itsbelt rollers loosely turning in said open bearing notches at one end ofthe frame, and a hook and eye connection between the pomace carrier andmain frame to provide for the convenient attachment and detachment ofthe pomace carrier, substantially as set forth.

7. In a cider mill, the main frame having bearing-notches at one endthereof, the milling and pressing devices mounted on said frame, aninclined carrier frame carrying belt-rollers one of which projectsbeyond the sides of the frame and removably ts in said bearing-notches,the slatted carrier or belt moving through said frame, and a detachableconnection between the carrier frame and the main frame, substantiallyas set forth.

8. In a cider mill, the combination with an approximately horizontalcider apron the lower pressure rollers arranged under the top portion ofsaid aprons, and the pressing devices arranged over said cider apron; ofa feed-hopper arranged over one end of said apron beyond the pressingdevices, a revolving winged feeder mounted to rotate in the lower end ofsaid hopper directly over the cider apron and an inclosingguard framefor said feeder, substantially as set forth.

9. In a cider mill, the combination of the pressing devices the longcider apron having apron-chains at its opposite edges the lower pressurerollers arranged under the top portion of said apron, afeed-hoppersuitably supported over one end of the cider apron and having aremovable bottom feed-board, a grinder arranged in the top of saidhopper, a feed-roller journaled in front of the hopper and having at itsopposite ends sprocketwheels engaging the opposite apron-chains, and atangential series of feed-blades Workin g inside of the lower open endof the hopper, substantially as set forth.

10. In a cider mill, the combination with the pressing devices; of thefeed-hopper, a toothed grinding roller arranged in the top of saidhopper, a revolving feeder arranged within the lower end of the hopper,and a convergent guard-frame arranged below the hopper and embracingsaid revolving feeder, substantially as set forth.

ll. In a cider mill, the combination with the milling, feeding andpressing devices; of means for throwing the pressing devices in and outof gear with the milling and feeding devices; substantially as setforth.

l2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with the framehaving a frameupright provided with locking-notches, the feeding device,one shaft of which is provided with a sprocket-wheel at one end, theapron devices, one shaft of which is provided with a belt-wheel at oneend, a gear-yoke pivoted at its upper end to a suitable point ofattachment, a larger sprocket-wheel journaled in said gear-yoke andcarrying at one side a belt-pulley, a belt passing over said belt-pulley and said belt-wheel, asprocket-chain passing over the twosprocket-Wheels, a horizontally-movable adjusting bar pivoted at one endto the lower end of said gear-yoke, and a gear-lever pivoted at anintermediate point to one side of the main frame and carrying, near itsupper end, a pivoted dog adapted to engage said locking-notches,substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMANUEL M. LANTZ.

Witnesses:

PHILANDER MCCRARY, JAMES S. DULL.

IIO

